Fall Out Boy, which brings its "Mania" tour to Bankers Life Fieldhouse Sunday, made a commitment to attempt a second act rather than relive past successes, Wentz said.

And he admits to being apprehensive when the band released 2013 single "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)." There was no reason to worry. The song reached No. 13 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart with more than 5 million downloads sold in the United States.

“We didn’t come back until we were ready to write,” Wentz said. “It put us out on a ledge. You write this thing, and it’s sonically different. You’re either creating a whole other part of your legacy, or maybe you’re trashing your legacy.

“It felt a little bit like a gamble. I’m glad we took it. I remember at the time, we were freaked out about it.”

Wentz told IndyStar about one of the band's low points in Indianapolis and why movies are so important to Fall Out Boy's creative process:

Maturity arrives

NEWSLETTERS

Get the The IndianapoLIST newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

Your Indy-area things to do source. Sorting out the best concerts, dining spots, art shows and more.

Before Fall Out Boy's four-year break, the band postponed a 2007 concert at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center (then Verizon Wireless Music Center) because band members were stranded at a New York City airport at 2:20 p.m. on the day of the show.

"That was rough," Wentz recalled.

During the makeup performance five days after the original date, Wentz apologized for the postponement and told the audience any amount of heckling would be OK with him.

The 2018 version of Fall Out Boy is a more considerate crew, Wentz said.

"I think there’s a patience and more thoughtfulness and discourse," he said. "You listen to everybody, you know, probably more than in earlier years when you’re young and not fully cooked or whatever.”

Cinematic ‘Champion’

Wentz, known as Fall Out Boy's primary lyricist, said "Champion" — the second single from 2018 album "Mania" — was partially inspired by Wes Anderson film "Rushmore."

Describing the Max Fischer character portrayed by Jason Schwartzman, Wentz said: "He’s like this lovable, unlovable guy. I think about it in terms of the guy who doesn’t believe in champions, but everybody needs something to look to."

Wentz said he and his band mates bond over favorite movies.

"The only thing Fall Out Boy really all agree on is cinema stuff," he said.

Pete Wentz fires his stunt bass guitar during Fall Out Boy's Sept. 8 show at Wrigley Field in Chicago.(Photo11: Elliot Ingham photo)

Live spectacle

The "Mania" tour includes its share of eye-popping visual effects, including satellite stages that rise from a catwalk that extends from the main stage to the other end of an arena's floor.

Wentz said he enjoys a nightly chance to throw fire from his instrument.

"I asked our guys, 'Is there a way to get a flamethrower bass?' I expected that maybe there’s probably not a way," he said.

"But, yeah, they showed up with a flamethrower bass when the tour started. We’ll dream up some pretty wild stuff. But our crew executes it for us."

Friendly confines

Fall Out Boy played perhaps the biggest show of its career Sept. 8, when the band headlined at Chicago's Wrigley Field. Wentz said his father attended the Cubs' first night game at the stadium in 1988.

"There’s something pretty magical about it," Wentz said of the venue. "Being able to go and play there was pretty crazy. 'Oh, man, I used to go watch Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston play here.' "